Sharon: Israeli pullback inevitable for peace

November 28, 2003

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that Israel will have to give up land as part of a future peace settlement.

His comments come as Palestinian leaders are trying to arrange a cease-fire between militant groups to revive the U.S.-sponsored peace plan and a number of alternative peace settlements independent of the Israeli government are being proposed.

"It is clear that in the end, we will not be in all the places where we are now," said Sharon during a meeting in Tel Aviv.

Sharon said that he was prepared to take "unilateral steps" if the peace process with the Palestinians remained stalled.

Israeli media reports indicated that among these, Sharon was considering removing some of what are described as illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

As a result, Palestinian officials have been skeptical of previous promises Sharon has made to remove the settlements, something he would be required to do under the U.S.-sponsored "road map."

In comments reported by The Associated Press, Sharon also warned the Palestinians that he would not wait forever to cut a peace deal, saying there "is a limit to our patience."